Luzerne County employees can now take classes or earn a degree from Luzerne County Community College at 50% the normal cost of tuition.
The LCCC-Luzerne County Workforce Development Partnership will help with recruiting, retaining and strengthening the skills of county employees, officials said Monday.
Similar programs will soon expand to other municipal governments and non-profit organizations in the region. College President John Yudichak said the school plans more announcements in coming months.
“Making sure that the community college steps up, serves its mission and serves its community is exactly what this county, college workforce development partnership does,” he said.
For the program, the college will discount tuition 25%, and the county will contribute 25%. The employee will be responsible for 50% of the cost, which equals $75 per credit.
All of the county’s 1,400 employees will be eligible for the program, said Romilda Crocamo, county manager.
“I'm a firm believer in continuing education and continuing learning, and the challenges that the county faces, really, they evolve, and we have to keep up with that evolution,” she said.
The county contributes $5.9 million annually to the community college, which helps the school operate. The county's tuition payment will depend on the number of credits taken, Crocamo said.
“The investment will actually, in the long run, be saving money because we can do work more efficiently,” she said.
Yudichak and Crocamo signed program agreements during an event in the rotunda of the Luzerne County Courthouse.
The college president called it another example of how the school is increasing access to higher education.
“We are breaking down those barriers so that students here in Northeastern Pennsylvania, or folks that are already in the workforce, understand the most affordable, accessible pathway to a college degree or post-secondary credential is Luzerne County Community College,” Yudichak said.
